PMO calls for risk-sensitive urban development plan for Joshimath

New Delhi: A high-level team headed by Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister, Dr PK Mishra, today reviewed building damage and land subsidence in Joshimath and stressed the need for a risk-sensitive urban development plan for the pilgrim town of Uttarakhand.

Dr Mishra claimed that a strip of land with a width of around 350 meters is affected in Joshimath and said the immediate priority for the state should be the safety of the people living in the affected area. “State Government should establish a clear and continuous communication channel with the affected people,” he said, adding that the immediate efforts should be to arrest the deterioration in the situation through practical measures that may be feasible. He also called for an interdisciplinary investigation of the affected area. “Experts from a range of central institutions— National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), National Institute of Disaster Management (NIDM), Geological Survey of India (GSI), Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology (WIHG), National Institute of Hydrology (NIH) and Central Building Research Institute (CBRI) should work closely with the state of Uttarakhand in the spirit of “Whole of Government” approach,” he said and stressed on the preparation of a clear time-bound reconstruction plan. He also told the authorities to conduct continuous seismic monitoring.

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The Chief Secretary of Uttarakhand informed that state and district officials with the support of central experts have assessed the situation on the ground and the district administration is working with the affected families to evacuate and relocate them to safer places with adequate arrangements for food, shelter and security.

One team of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and four teams of the State DRF have reached Joshimath.  the Superintendent of Police and Commandment of SDRF are stationed at the site.

The Review Committee was told that the residents of Joshimath are being informed of the developments and their cooperation is being sought. The advice of experts is also being sought to formulate short-medium-long-term plans.

Today’s meeting was also attended by the  Cabinet Secretary; Home Secretary along with senior Central Government officials; members of the National Disaster Management Authority, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police of Uttarakhand, District Magistrate and officials of Joshimath; Senior officers of Uttarakhand; and experts from IIT Roorkee, National Institute of Disaster Management, Geological Survey of India, Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology also attended the review through Video Conference.

It was informed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi also reviewed the situation with the Chief Minister of Uttarakhand, today.

– global bihari bureau